US9272936B2ActiveUtilityA1

Waste treatment process

Assignee: EARTH RENEWAL GROUP LLCPriority: Apr 1, 2009Filed: Jul 8, 2013Granted: Mar 1, 2016

Est. expiryApr 1, 2029(~2.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:George G. Foster Frederick P. Kesler Malcolm Draper Shannon L. Comp

C02F 11/06C02F 2209/02C02F 2209/03Y02P20/145C05B 17/02C02F 1/727C02F 2101/20C02F 2103/20C02F 2103/32C02F 1/72

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References

Claims

Abstract

A process for treating waste includes reacting an organic feedstock in a reactor. The organic feedstock is part of a reaction mixture that includes a first oxidizing acid (e.g., sulfuric acid) and nitric acid. The weight ratio of solids in the organic feedstock to the total of the first oxidizing acid and the nitric acid is at least 0.2. The weight ratio of solids in the organic feedstock to the first oxidizing acid is at least 0.3. The weight ratio of solids in the organic feedstock to the nitric acid is at least 0.5.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
reacting an organic feedstock in a reactor, the organic feedstock being part of a reaction mixture that includes a first oxidizing acid and nitric acid;
wherein the weight ratio of solids in the organic feedstock to the total of the first oxidizing acid and the nitric acid is at least 0.2.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic feedstock includes sewage material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the solids in the organic feedstock to the total of the first oxidizing acid and the nitric acid is at least 0.5.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction mixture, excluding solids, includes no more than approximately 7.5 wt % of the total of the first oxidizing acid and the nitric acid.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction mixture, excluding solids, includes no more than approximately 5 wt % of the first oxidizing acid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first oxidizing acid includes sulfuric acid.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of no more than approximately 210° C.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising maintaining a pressure in the reactor of at least 1035 kPa.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising supplying oxygen gas to the reactor.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein reacting the organic feedstock in the reactor forms an effluent including a liquid fraction, the method comprising separating heavy metals from the liquid fraction.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein separating the heavy metals from the liquid fraction includes separating at least 80 wt % of the arsenic and/or mercury from the liquid fraction.

12. A method comprising:
reacting an organic feedstock in a reactor, the organic feedstock being part of a reaction mixture that includes a first oxidizing acid and nitric acid;
wherein the weight ratio of solids in the organic feedstock to the first oxidizing acid is at least 0.3.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the organic feedstock includes sewage material.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the weight ratio of the solids in the organic feedstock to the first oxidizing acid is at least 0.5.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the reaction mixture, excluding solids, includes no more than approximately 7.5 wt % of the total of the first oxidizing acid and the nitric acid.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the reaction mixture, excluding solids, includes no more than approximately 5 wt % of the first oxidizing acid.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the first oxidizing acid includes sulfuric acid.

18. The method of claim 12 comprising maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of no more than approximately 210° C.

19. The method of claim 12 comprising maintaining a pressure in the reactor of at least 1035 kPa.

20. The method of claim 12 comprising supplying oxygen gas to the reactor.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein reacting the organic feedstock in the reactor forms an effluent including a liquid fraction, the method comprising separating heavy metals from the liquid fraction.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein separating the heavy metals from the liquid fraction includes separating at least 80 wt % of the arsenic and/or mercury from the liquid fraction.

23. A method comprising:
reacting an organic feedstock in a reactor, the organic feedstock being part of a reaction mixture that includes a first oxidizing acid and nitric acid;
wherein the weight ratio of solids in the organic feedstock to the nitric acid is at least 0.5.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the organic feedstock includes sewage material.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the weight ratio of the solids in the organic feedstock to the nitric acid is at least 1.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the reaction mixture, excluding solids, includes no more than approximately 7.5 wt % of the total of the first oxidizing acid and the nitric acid.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the reaction mixture, excluding solids, includes no more than approximately 5 wt % of the first oxidizing acid.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the first oxidizing acid includes sulfuric acid.

29. The method of claim 23 comprising maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of no more than approximately 210° C.

30. The method of claim 23 comprising maintaining a pressure in the reactor of at least 1035 kPa.

31. The method of claim 23 comprising supplying oxygen gas to the reactor.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein reacting the organic feedstock in the reactor forms an effluent including a liquid fraction, the method comprising separating heavy metals from the liquid fraction.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein separating the heavy metals from the liquid fraction includes separating at least 80 wt % of the arsenic and/or mercury from the liquid fraction.

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